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Expert Care for
Corneal Conditions

Living with a corneal condition can be unsettling, impacting everything from your daily activities to your hopes for the future. If you’re struggling with blurry vision, discomfort, or have been told you might need a cornea transplant, finding clear answers and a specialist you can trust is the most important next step. For over 48 years, Westwood Ophthalmology Associates has been the practice that generations of North Jersey and greater NYC families, including local doctors and their own families, have turned to for sight-saving care. Our world-class, fellowship-trained cornea specialist, Dr. Lee, is dedicated to providing you with advanced, personalized solutions and restoring your vision and quality of life. He is not only an expert in the latest corneal transplant techniques but has also taught these advanced skills to the next generation of ophthalmologists.

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Expert Care For Your Corneal Disease

Restore Clear Vision

We diagnose and treat the underlying causes of a cloudy or misshapen cornea, addressing conditions like Fuchs’ Dystrophy and Keratoconus to help you see the world again with the sharpness and clarity you deserve.

Find Lasting Relief

Our targeted therapies provide lasting relief from the chronic pain, irritation, and light sensitivity of corneal disease.

Live Without Limits

Return to driving, working, and enjoying your hobbies with the confidence that comes from clear, comfortable vision.

Unmatched Expertise

Our cornea specialist brings elite fellowship training from world-renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins directly to you.

Advanced Surgery

We offer a full spectrum of modern treatments, including corneal cross-linking for keratoconus, advanced medical therapies, and partial-thickness transplants like DMEK and DALK for faster healing and superior visual results.

Guidance at Every Step

Our dedicated team supports you throughout your entire journey, from your initial diagnosis to your successful recovery.

Core Concepts of Corneal Health

The cornea’s primary function is to refract light precisely so that images are sharply focused onto the retina. Its transparency and smooth curvature are essential to normal vision, and any changes can cause light to be scattered or distorted. Additionally, as a barrier against dust, germs, and other external elements, the cornea plays a vital role in protecting the inner eye from infections and injuries.

What Is Corneal Disease?

Why the Cornea Matters

Symptoms and Signs to Watch For

Common Conditions and Symptoms

Each of these conditions can affect the cornea in different ways, and early diagnosis is key to preventing further complications. For instance, even a small abrasion can progress to an ulcer if proper care is not taken, while chronic conditions require ongoing management to maintain vision quality.

Corneal Transplants and disease and LASIK (6)

Common Corneal Problems & Causes

Corneal conditions can vary widely and include both minor injuries and complex diseases that may impair vision. Here are some of the most common corneal conditions that our cornea specialist diagnose and manage:

Scarring from Chemical Injuries: A severe chemical burn can cause lasting corneal damage, including vision-clouding scars, chronic pain, and sores that won't heal. This is often because the injury destroys the eye’s natural healing stem cells. Our cornea specialist is an expert in managing these complex cases. We use advanced treatments like amniotic membranes, custom scleral lenses, and corneal transplants, to heal the surface, reduce pain, and improve your vision.
Corneal Abrasions: Small scratches or scrapes on the corneal surface that can cause pain, redness, and a sensation of something in the eye.
Corneal Infections: Infections that can arise when bacteria, fungi, or viruses invade the cornea, often following an abrasion or improper contact lens care which may lead to pain, redness, and blurred vision.
Corneal Ulcers: Open sores on the cornea, typically resulting from untreated infections or trauma; these ulcers can lead to discomfort, light sensitivity, and reduced vision if not addressed promptly.
Corneal Ectasia: Corneal ectasia describes a group of conditions where the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, progressively thins and begins to bulge outward into an irregular, often cone-like shape. This distortion prevents light from focusing correctly, leading to worsening blurred vision, significant astigmatism, and increased glare or halos. While it can occur naturally in conditions like keratoconus, ectasia is also known as a potential, though rare, complication following refractive surgeries.
Keratoconus: A progressive condition in which the cornea thins and gradually develops a cone-like shape, leading to distorted vision and increased light sensitivity.
Corneal Dystrophies: Inherited disorders that cause abnormal deposits or scarring, such as Map-Dot Fingerprint Dystrophy or Lattice Dystrophy, which can impair vision over time.
Pterygium: A pterygium, often called "surfer's eye," is a non-cancerous, wedge-shaped growth of fleshy tissue that extends from the white of the eye (the conjunctiva) onto the clear cornea. This condition is commonly associated with prolonged exposure to sun, wind, and dust. While a small pterygium may not cause any issues, a larger one can become red and irritated, and may even grow large enough to distort the shape of the cornea, causing blurred vision. Our doctors at Westwood Ophthalmology can monitor your pterygium and, if necessary, perform a specialized surgical procedure to remove it and prevent regrowth.

Keratoconus

Corneal Dystrophies

Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy

Corneal Ulcers

Advanced Diagnostic Technology

Accurate diagnosis of corneal disease is fundamental to developing an effective treatment plan. Our cornea specialist utilizes advanced diagnostic technology to examine and assess the condition of your cornea carefully.

Key diagnostic tests include:

Slit-Lamp Examination

Corneal Topography

Pachymetry

Advanced Imaging

OCT Tomography

Treatment and
Surgical Options

Our cornea surgeon will evaluate your specific condition, overall eye health, and personal goals to recommend the most appropriate procedure for you. Dr. Lee provides a range of surgical procedures, and he also offers a less invasive method for an earlier stage of the disease. He makes sure to carefully consider each option, as each cornea requires a careful and considered approach to achieving the best long-term outcome for vision, comfort, and health.

Non-invasive therapies

At Westwood Ophthalmology, our first goal is always to restore corneal health using the most advanced and least invasive methods possible. We specialize in a range of non-surgical therapies designed to promote natural healing, reduce discomfort, and improve your vision, often delaying or eliminating the need for more invasive procedures. Our approach is to create a healthy environment where your cornea can heal itself.

Some of our leading non-invasive treatments include:

Custom Scleral Lenses: These are large-diameter, custom-designed contact lenses that vault completely over the damaged or irregular cornea, resting on the white part of the eye (the sclera). This unique design creates a constant reservoir of hydrating fluid over the cornea's surface, which provides relief from severe dry eye, protects it from friction, and masks surface irregularities to provide remarkably clearer vision for patients with conditions like keratoconus. Our specialist, Dr. Tran, has extensive expertise in fitting these therapeutic lenses.
Amniotic Membranes: An amniotic membrane is a therapeutic biological bandage made from donated human tissue that is placed over the cornea to promote healing. This special tissue is rich in natural growth factors that reduce inflammation, prevent scarring, and support the regeneration of a healthy corneal surface. We use these membranes to treat persistent corneal defects, severe dry eye, and non-healing ulcers, providing your eye with the essential components it needs to repair itself.
Targeted Therapies for Tear Production & Inflammation: Chronic inflammation and insufficient tear production are often at the root of many corneal conditions. We utilize the most advanced medical treatments to manage this cycle, including prescription eye drops like Restasis, Xiidra, and Meibo (perfluorohexyloctane) to boost tear production and control inflammation. For more severe cases, we offer advanced options like autologous serum tears, punctal plugs to conserve your natural tears, and other specialized therapies designed to restore a healthy, stable tear film.

Advanced Surgical Interventions

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Causes and Contributing Factors

Corneal disease can result from a variety of causes. Some conditions are the outcome of acute trauma or injury, while others develop gradually over time due to underlying health issues or environmental factors.

Common causes include:

Trauma or Injury

Infections

Chronic Dry Eye

Genetic Factors

Environmental Exposures

Systemic Conditions

Questions About Corneal Disease

What exactly is the cornea and what does it do?

What are the most common symptoms of a corneal disease?

How is a corneal scratch or abrasion treated?

Are there different types of corneal transplants?

How can I protect my cornea from infections and injuries?

Corneal Transplants and disease and LASIK (5)

Meet Our Cornea Surgeon: Dr. Jung S. Lee

Dr. Jung S. Lee is a board-certified ophthalmologist with specialized expertise in corneal diseases. He completed advanced fellowship training in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the prestigious Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. Since joining our practice in 2008, Dr. Lee has focused on providing skilled surgical care, including complex corneal transplants and cataract surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, he serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where he helps train new ophthalmologists in cornea and cataract surgery.

What Our Patients Say
About Their Surgery Experience

Dr Lee is compassionate, caring and an excellent ophthalmologist and surgeon. He has provided wonderful care and restored vision for my 93 year old mom!

Dr. Lee was extremely personable and comforting. He’s already been recommended to many people, thx

I have seen Dr. Lee recently for cornea surgery and follow up. I think the world of him. He is quite competent and caring.

Wonderful experience. Everything was explained well. Surgery site very organized, clean, done on time. Follow up also on time. All questions answered. So glad I had my surgery with Dr. Lee.

I can’t say enough good things about Doctor Lee or the facility. I feel like Dr. Lee gave me back my eyesight. His gentle ways and friendly demeanor are wonderful.

I went for my check‑up, and everything went well. It’s always a pleasure to see Dr. Lee, he truly cares about his patients. I highly recommend him.

Expert Corneal Surgeon

Schedule Your Cornea Consultation in North Jersey

Are you ready to take the first step toward clearer vision and lasting relief from your corneal condition? Schedule a personal, one-on-one consultation with our fellowship-trained cornea specialist, Dr. Jung S. Lee. This is your no-obligation opportunity to meet with a true expert, ask all of your questions about your condition, and discover if a modern cornea transplant is the right solution for you. We proudly welcome patients to our Westwood, NJ office from across the greater NYC metropolitan area and Northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Morris, and Passaic Counties.

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Expert Care for Corneal Conditions